“Argh, man...! We're getting nowhere with this crap.”

Tobi paced along a lone path overlooking the winding valleys far below, muttering to himself in defeat. He was returning to the truck's location, an elongated sigh of frustration escaping him in the process. Ever since their visit to Quintis, an underlying doubt gradually brewed within him. Although he was adamant that there was still a slither of hope, his optimism diminished swiftly as progress over the three days dwindled.

“This entire trip was pointless.” He continued to rant, showing little care of his surroundings. “We been grasping at bloody straws everywhere we go, and nothing came of it! What’s even the point in trying?!”

He then noticed a lone figure appear from the distance, causing his rant to lower into a disgruntled, cautious whisper.

“I bet Zaron and Veena feel the same way I do...” He grumbled with a silent tut, imagining their recent expressions.

Tobi and the figure closed in, keeping to themselves as they prepared to pass each other. The figure was cloaked heavily, donning an ankle-length grey overcoat with a concealing hood. From Tobi’s perspective, the figure held an ominous aura, their sturdy frame adding to the figure’s dominant presence. Tobi fell silent, lowering his head and lips locked tight as he avoided any further mention of his Draiken friends and their current situation.

Step ... step ... step...

Growing conscious of the mysterious figure in front of him, Tobi shifted to the side to allow the figure plenty of space.

Nudge...!

"...Ah!”

Suddenly, the figure misplaced their footing, knocking their shoulder against Tobi without warning.

Clump!

The collision caused the young Cobalt to stumble back, dropping his book in the process. As it fell, several pages separated and scattered across the ground, carried away by the gust.

“Oh crap! M-my apologies!” The cloaked figure excused in a startle, expressing his guilt profusely as he gathered the scattered papers. “My mind was elsewhere.”

“Oh, no prob...”

The young Cobalt knelt beside the cloaked man as he collected the book and its additional papers, waving off the unnecessary apology. Ensuring the book was secured, Tobi snatched it up hastily before the figure even considered to pick it up. With looming uncertainty of the cloaked man’s intentions, he demonstrated extra caution.

(What’s with this guy...?)

Tobi was at a loss, believing he allowed the man plenty of space to pass only for the man to still clip shoulders. As they collected the remaining papers, Tobi peered at the mysterious figure, curious to find out the man’s identity under the hood. And then, as he caught a glance, his eyes widened instantly.

Underneath the concealing hood, the cloaked man was wearing a winding black cloth for a blindfold. Only his nostrils, his mouth and his chin were exposed, however there were also hints of presumed scarring breaking through the blindfold edges.

“Is something the matter?” The cloaked man then questioned him curiously, smiling as he noticed the young Cobalt staring back at him.

“N-no ... it’s fine.” Tobi stuttered in immediate response, his gaze shifting away in a snap.

As the minutes passed, the two had collected up all to loose papers and returned to Tobi’s possession.

“Once again, I apologise for my blunder.” The mysterious figure lowered his head as he expressed his guilt. “Is there anything I missed?”

“I think that’s everything...” Tobi murmured as he glanced at the book in his grasp, holding it tightly to prevent any loose pages from slipping out. “Thanks for the help, I guess.”

The mysterious man grinned in response, nodding back at the young Cobalt before waving goodbye and setting off on his trek. Tobi watched him tread further and further away, his grasp on the paper-filled book firm as he attempted to understand the odd encounter. As he snapped back to reality, the young Cobalt flipped through the book’s pages, praying all were accounted for. However, with each page passing his gaze, a sense of confusion grew within him.

Many of the loose pages had descriptions and associated images that seemed new to him. In fact, many of the pages were freshly written and hand-drawn, the textures rough and crumpled in comparison to the book’s neat and collected pages. In that moment, reality dawned on Tobi.

(No way...! The book wasn't ripped at all.)

Not a tear nor crease was seen in the book, every aspect was blissfully intact. Tobi removed one of the loose sheets, holding it up into the vacant light. He scanned through the details, his gaze hovering over keywords that caught his attention. Amongst the many keywords was the grid coordinates to the Dragon’s Eye’s precise location.

“...Hey! Wait a minu-!”

And yet, as Tobi called out to the cloaked man, he realised immediately that the man was nowhere to be found.

With his head full of confusion, Tobi murmured underneath his breath. “Who ... was that guy...?”

***

“So ... just to summarise...” Zaron muttered deep in thought, cupping his chin as he gazed ahead. “During your walk, you randomly bump into this suspicious blindfolded guy. You then – conveniently – pick up vital information detailing the location of the Dragon’s Eye. And then ... this mysterious man just disappeared without a trace?”

“Yep. That sums it up.” Tobi nodded in a nonchalant response.

After a moment of cautious silence, Zaron proceeded.

“Ok, and – if we were to believe this guy is legit – are you sure this is the location?”

“Yep ... this is the place.”

All five group members – Zaron, Veena, Tobi, Marc, and Lucas – stood at the entrance of a small, unidentified cave. They were situated far in the depths of a woodland south-west of Aeris – known to many as Seren Woods. Its overhanging tree canopy was dense, allowing sparse rays of the early-morning light to break through onto the forest ground. The surrounding forest was quiet and ambient, only the occasional birds twittering and foliage rustling breaking through the silence.

“I don't know about this, Tobi.” Veena admitted in uncertainty, stepping up beside Zaron to observe the entrance. “We’re in the middle of nowhere with notes from a random guy you met out of the blue. For all we know, this could be a trap.”

“Which is why we should've discussed this before we left.” Marc then yelled from a distance, his patience wearing thin.

“Oh, give it a rest!” Tobi growled back in rejection, refusing to yield to the group’s constant cynicism. “So far, we've had no credible leads throughout this whole trip. If not for this, we would’ve given up entirely by now.”

Doubt loomed over the group's heads, Zaron and Veena understanding Tobi's optimism yet unable to dispel the sense of uncertainty. One the other hand, Marc found the option as a complete waste of time and resources.

And then, there was Lucas.

“As the driver of the team, I will override all concerns and side with Tobi.” He announced in abrupt confidence, enforcing his words were final.

Zaron, Veena, and Marc all turned to face Lucas in wide-eyed bewilderment.

“Why’re you all staring at me for?” Lucas questioned consciously. “There’s no way I'm driving another hundred miles after our current track record of success. My poor wallet is beyond crippled already ... and I don’t even want to know what’s left in my bank account right now.”

With this unexpected turn of events, Tobi was beaming from ear-to-ear with satisfaction.

“Well then, there’s no time to waste.” He ushered the others eagerly, stepping into the cave. “Onward into the uncharted abyss-!”

“Not you.”

Snatch!

“Urk-!”

Lucas grabbed his overly eager son suddenly by the neck of his shirt, causing him to lurch back with little warning. The young Cobalt tripped up on himself due to the abrupt halt, twisting and stumbling to regain his centre of gravity.

“Oi! That was a dick move, old man!” Tobi then spat out in disgust, soothing his neck. “Why'd you do that for?!”

However, Lucas expressed no sympathy as he crossed his arms.

“We three Cobalts will stay topside and set up camp.” He informed, refusing to waver his decision. “Exploring the cave and retrieving the Eye will fall on Zaron and Veena’s shoulders.”

“Sound’s good to me.” Marc accepted instantly.

“Wha-?! Hold up! No! It’s not good at all!” Tobi refused in protest, disgusted by the unexpected switch. “What about our ‘team-dynamic’ here? We're all meant to be together in this, right?”

Understanding his son's complaints, Lucas returned a single nod. He then faced the rest of the group, clearing his throat.

“Okay people, hold up your hand if you have a weapon on your person at this current time.”

The straight-faced Zaron and Veena held up their hands in an instant.

“...Dammit.”

A bitter murmur escaped Tobi’s mouth as he yielded to his father, unable to hide his dissatisfaction. His desire to play a leading role in their venture was evident, wishing to assist his newfound friends in their quest. And yet, deep down he knew he would only burden the two Draiken, realising how ill-equipped he was for the task. Lucas then placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, expressing his empathy on the dilemma.

“My boy. There'll be a time and place where we Cobalts will take up arms.” He assured his son in a prideful, dramatic manner. “With patience comes reward.”

Hearing his father’s inspirational quote, Tobi stared at him with a bored-driven expression.

“That's nice, Dad ... I’d take you seriously if not for the corny tone.” He jabbed back, undermining his father’s statement purposely in one fell swoop.

What followed the father-son duo bickering playfully to one another, returning jabs and insults at nauseam. In the meantime, Zaron, Veena, and Marc prepared the equipment without hesitation, removing all necessary items from the truck and displaying them in designated areas of the woodland. And then, after receiving the all-clear, the two Draiken removed the cloaking devices from their wings. They were struck with a sudden sense of freedom, relieved to regain movement and feeling in their unique limbs after an eternity of restriction and discomfort. They fluttered and flapped their wings lightly as they continued to shift the equipment, enjoying every second whilst it lasted. Once all required items were set, the Draiken duo proceeded to equip their weapons.

Veena was first to equip her Kurama blade, attaching its sheath to her belt after inspecting the quality of its blade. A rush of satisfaction engulfed her as she felt the blade rest on her hip and wings behind her flap freely, feeling ready to take on any foe that falls in her path.

Beside her, Zaron set his weapon case on the ground, placing his hands against the surface firmly.

Click!

Upon hearing the case unlock, he lifted the lid and rested his gaze on its contents. The Artoria blade laid before him, gleaming in the radiant sun in anticipation for the upcoming mission. With a confident grin, Zaron grasped the weapon by its hilt and lifted it out from its case, a sense of power coursing through his veins as he swung it onto the magnetic plate against his back. The two Draiken then set their eyes on the cave's entrance before them, their stance firm and engaged on the objective ahead – they were ready.

“Before you two plunge into the depths of nothingness, you’d best take these with you.” Lucas informed the two as he approached them swiftly, passing over a pair of black nylon backpacks filled with an assortment of content. “We don't know how long you two will be down there, so I’ve supplied you with everything you need for the day.”

The two accepted the bags in gratitude, checking its contents curiously before slinging them over their shoulders – with Zaron stacking it over the Artoria blade awkwardly. Inside the bags were typical: a head-torch, first-aid supplies, filled water flasks, packed meals, and emergency rations. It was minimal, yet the supplies were enough to cater for their crucial needs whilst caving. However, there was an additional item in Zaron’s pack. Assuming it was a necessary addition, Lucas included the camera Zaron intended to present to Veena in the backpack. Still in its cardboard packaging, the camera caused the backpack to expand and adjust in an abnormal shape.

“Why is your bag bulkier than mine?” Veena wondered curiously, peering behind Zaron’s shoulder as she noticed the odd shape.

Fwip!

“Aah-No!” Zaron blurted out abruptly as he swivelled on his feet, hiding the bag from Veena’s view in haste. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh...? That reaction says otherwise.” Veena pursued cunningly, closing on Zaron as she further interrogated him. “Come on, fess up. What’ve you got in there?”

“And one last thing.” Lucas then added at the last minute, saving Zaron from his impending dilemma.

Breaking the tension, the two Draiken watched as the older Cobalt passed a pair of small objects to them - one for each. Upon inspection, the two realised they had received small, wireless radio earpieces.

“With these, we’ll be able to communicate and assist you where necessary.” He explained briefly. “They’re strong in range and signal, so they should be able to transmit far into the depths of the cave.”

Fitting the earpieces into their right ears, both Zaron and Veena found the devices comfortable and perfectly fitting – barely visible under the tufts of their hair.

“Thanks, Lucas.” Zaron expressed in gratitude.

“Keep in contact as frequently as possible.” Lucas then requested, as though advising them with caution. “Even though we have you on radio, we won’t know the full extent of your situation down there. For all we know, you guys could be overrun by enemies.”

“Yeah ... good point.” Zaron murmured in consideration. “We’ll keep you guys posted.”

With that, Lucas nodded in a satisfied response.

“Hold it!”

In that moment, Tobi leapt into the conversation abruptly, causing the two Draiken to switch around in an unexpected startle.

“Do you two really think I’ll let you to go down there without a few words of wisdom?” He called out openly, throwing an arm around both Zaron and Veena’s shoulders.

“Err ... No?” Veena answered warily.

“It’s a rhetorical question...” Tobi then muttered in disappointment before proceeding to speak his mind. “We’ve known each other for three – count them, THREE – weeks now, so there’s no way I’m just going to sit idly by and watch you two head into uncertain doom without saying a few motivational words.”

In that moment, Tobi’s expression turned solemn, his body trembling.

“A stone may be as pretty as the universe, but it’s worthless compared to your lives.” He then stated openly, a heartfelt aura emitting from his tone as he gazed upon the two Draiken. “The moment things go south, you two bail immediately. You got that?”

At first, Zaron and Veena gazed back their friend with frozen expressions, unable to speak a word in response. Tobi’s words struck a chord with them, feeling a sense of reality dawned upon them. Whilst they were physically prepared for the journey into the darkness, they had no clue as to what level of dangers they would face during their quest. Zaron then broke the tension with an upbeat response.

“You should have faith in us, buddy. It’s not like we’re untrained wannabees playing with toy swords.”

“We’ve got a long road ahead of us, Tobi.” Veena mentioned additionally, expressing her cheerful confidence. “It's a daunting task, but ... we won’t be kicking the bucket this early in the game, I assure you.”

Tobi let out a small snicker as he nodded, amused by their unbreakable resolve. He lifted his grasp from their shoulders and stepped back casually.

“Fine by me. Who am I to stop you guys...?” He accepted nonchalantly, waving off any looming concern. “Just do me a favour and come back in one piece, okay?”

The Draiken duo nodded in response before switching to enter the cave.

“It'll be a walk in the park!” Zaron called out in prideful ignorance, pumping his fist in the air in anticipation.

With an amused smirk beaming across his face, Tobi watched Zaron and Veena disappear into the dark damp depths of the cave. As an anxious sigh escaped him, the concern that plagued his mind finally broke from its chains.

Twitch!

He was petrified. His body was fidgeting, dread overwhelming him at the simple thought of the two never returning to the surface crossed his mind.

Step ... step...

In that moment, Lucas stepped up beside his anxious son, his expression as firm as stone as he observed the cave entrance. He was silent. In the background, Marc was preoccupied in setting up camp, murmuring to himself upon hearing Zaron’s upbeat declaration.

“...Famous last words...”

***

“Hey, Zaron – ugh…! How long do you think Tobi spent reciting his … ‘words of wisdom’?” Veena asked cheekily. “I’m sure he didn’t make it up on the fly.”

“Heh-hee…! I wouldn’t be surprised if he spent the entire day tweaking it.” Zaron answered in amusement, chuckling away between the grunts and grinding teeth. “You have to – nngh...! – admire his spirit, though.”

The two Draiken pressed through the caving system without delay, slipping by the narrow corridors and tight limestone pockets with ease. With their head torches on at full power, they navigated their way through the thick darkness in hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. Sweat poured from their foreheads as they progressed, feeling the humidity swirling around them with each step forward. As they descended and traversed through, the concept of time drifted away from their minds, wondering whether it had been only minutes or hours since entering the cave.

Zaron – who was leading the pair – had his mind set on the prize, anticipating the moment he would finally claim the notorious Dragon’s Eye. His excitement elevated exponentially, imagining the celebration upon handing the jewel over to Queen Sera and becoming one step closer to achieving his mission. An image of his mother then appeared fresh in his mind, driving him forward in further determination.

Veena – trailing close behind Zaron – felt the spark of adrenaline course through her veins, a sense of renewed focus as the notorious jewel was fresh in her mind. As she proceeded through the cave, her imagination delved into familiar territory, feeling a sense of comfort as she reflected on Dragora and its serene environments. She remembered the comfort of her own home and her loving family, anticipating her eventual return upon retrieving the Dragon’s Eye. She could feel her home at arms-length, enticing her to press forward and claim her prize.

As they proceeded through the tunnels, the walls surrounding them narrowed gradually. At first, it was a breeze for the Draiken duo to slip through the cave, easily able to pass the plethora of rock formations without significant manoeuvring or difficulty. However, they soon resorted to squeezing through gaps almost impossible for their bodies and luggage to fit, lying flat on their bodies and wriggling like worms just to dislodge themselves from various tight tunnels. Their skin clammy and foreheads dripping of sweat, their felt their patience tested. There was no doubt that claustrophobia was creeping on them, awaiting the opportunity to consume. Hoping to distract them from feeling the mental suffocation, Veena decided to speak her mind.

“You know, I just ... can't get my head around how Tobi just conveniently found the Dragon’s Eye location – guh...! – all because he bumped into this random guy.” She expressed between her grunts and jolts. “Do you think we’re heading into a trap?”

Considering the possibility, Zaron responded. “Well ... it wouldn't make sense for it to be a simple coincidence.”

“Then ... could it be Mantis' employer?” Veena followed with a wary question.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Honestly ... who knows.” Zaron murmured with a light shrug. “Then again ... if Mantis doesn’t know our location, how would her employer know?”

“G-good ... point.” She admitted in a disappointed sigh. “Do you have anyone else in mind?”

Zaron then wavered, considering the logical option.

“Maybe ... he's associated with Lucas.” He suggested openly. “If you think about it, why would Lucas drive all the way here without a second thought. It’s clear he trusts the information.”

“True-true ... although, why would Lucas keep his identity from us?” Veena added on, considering the broader aspect. “It seems odd to not share the person’s identity if he knew the guy.”

“Fair point. Looks like we'll be asking him when we-...”

Bam!

“Oof-!”

Zaron halted his progression abruptly, freezing mid-sentence.

Veena bumped into him from behind, causing the two to trip over without warning.

“Why'd you stop?!” Veena yelled at him.

“...It's a dead end.” Zaron murmured in response, his gaze wide in disbelief.

Veena peered through the narrow gap between Zaron’s torso and the wall. Her heart sank in an instant.

“You’re kidding...” She muttered underneath her breath.

Before them was a wall of unmovable rock, lacking any chance for diversion or passage. The two felt around, searching for any possibility of a way through – whether it was a hidden gap in the wall or loose, crumbling rock. And yet, no matter how hard they searched, they were left completely stuck.

“Should we turn back?” Veena suggested with a defeated sigh, shifting her body anxiously between the two narrow rock walls.

As though refusing to face reality, Zaron shuffled forward. He reached out his hand once more, feeling around firmly for a potential weakness in the rock formation. His breath was slow and calm as he prayed for a resolution to their predicament. Veena watched without speaking a word.

“Tsk...! Come on...”

With his jaw locked shut and muscles tensed, Zaron‘s frustration elevated. He refused to retreat, desperate to press on as he despised the thought of returning to the Cobalts empty-handed.

WHAM!

Overwhelmed with frustration, Zaron struck the wall with a firm fist.

“Zaron!”

Veena yelled out at him in sudden bewilderment.

“Hey! It’s not my fault there’s a bloody wall in the-!”

...Crumble...!

“...Hm?”

In that moment, the two Draiken felt a light rumble underneath their feet. Zaron withdrew immediately, inspecting his knuckle as he wondered awkwardly what had just occurred.

“I ... think you've angered the cave gods, Zaron.” Veena commented cheekily with judging eyes, shifting her feet back cautiously.

Zaron then switched to her with a cocky smirk.

“Then maybe the ‘cave gods' should stop being arseholes.”

Crack-crack...!

Just then, the two lowered their gaze in sync, their curiosity evolving into dread.

CRUNCH!

“OH SHIT!!!”

Before he realised what had happened, the gravel beneath Zaron's feet disintegrated, causing him to fall through the floor. Noticing his sudden descent, Veena threw her arm forward instinctively and snatched anything connected to Zaron, hoping she could prevent his fall. However, she realised instantly that she had latched on the sleeve of Zaron's jacket, causing him to separate from his backpack and weapon in the process.

Fwoosh...!!! Bang-bang-crack-BANG!

The jacketless Zaron descended through the gap below, colliding back-and-forth against the rough walls in uncontrollable velocity. He had no sense of bearings, every attempt to catch a ledge with his hands or wing-talons were met with instant ricochet. All he could hope for was that the ground far below was as soft as pillows.

Whack! Crack! ... BOOM!!!

He then collided against the rocky, jagged floor below without a chance to brace for the inevitable impact.

“Ah-! NNNGH...!!!” He grasped out in agony as the wind was knocked out of his lungs, pain surging through his body like a lightning bolt.

Clang-clang-clang-CLANG...!!!

Hearing the metallic noise, Zaron’s pained eyes shot open as the colour in his cheeks fell pale. The noise was the Artoria blade, falling towards him from directly above. Without a second delay, Zaron twisted and rolled away in desperate haste.

VrooOOOSH...! STAB!

By the scales of his wing, the young Draiken avoided the large blade by a narrow margin. It struck the ground beside him with a devastating slice, embedding itself into the rocky floor without a hint of resistance. As he regained his bearings, Zaron stared at the weapon with his heart lodged in his throat. All he could imagine was a scenario where he was impaled by his own weapon, feeling close to vomiting after his perceived near-death experience.

“*Gasp...!* Hack-! Koff-koff...!”

Just then, the air in his lungs kicked back into gear, causing him to clutch his chest reactively as he cleared his airways.

Fwip!

“Zaron! Are you okay?!”

At the same time, Veena appeared abruptly from the gap above him, calling out to him in panic. Upon dropping down with graceful descent, she passed the standing Artoria blade and raced to Zaron's side in a heartbeat. Amongst her cradling arms were Zaron’s backpack and crumpled jacket, juggling them carefully as she descended through the newly formed hole in the roof. Placing aside the excess luggage, she knelt beside her partner and inspected him hastily for any visible sign of injury.

“You ... seem to be in one piece, at least.” She then deduced, breathing out a sigh of relief. “That could’ve gone really bad.”

Zaron glanced at Veena with a blank expression, a quiet murmur escaping his breath.

“…You have no idea.”

Oblivious to the purpose of his comment, Veena helped Zaron return to his feet before patting down the dust that covered his attire.

“Okay-okay! I've got it.” Zaron shooed her irritably, finding the excessive fuss unnecessary.

“Awh...! Can't I pat you down and make you look respectable every once-in-a-while?” She pouted cheekily as she continued to pick at him.

“We’re in a cave, Veena. We’ll be dirty regardless of what we do.” He answered in a grumble, slapping away her hand lightly at every attempt to pick at him. “There's no point wasting your energy.”

“Well, it important enough to me.” Veena justified adamantly, expressing her stubbornness as she planned to continue her picking.

“What are you, my Wi-...?”

However, as Zaron remarked, he was halted immediately by their surrounding environment. The two Draiken stared out in awe; they’re eyes wide as they were entranced by the sheer beauty before them. The corridor glistened in a sheen of purple and blue crystal, coating the walls and ceiling with radiant minerals and gems of plenty. Crystallized pillars erected in various lengths and directions, acting as though they were thriving naturally like plants and trees.

“Damn ... the guys up top are missing out.” Zaron commented breathlessly, his gaze fixated entirely on his surroundings.

“If only we had a camera.” Veena murmured underneath her breath. “The images we could’ve showed them would be spectacular.”

Zaron then heard a voice suddenly echo through his head:

(What are you waiting for...? The time is now...!)

His eyes then switched between Veena and his backpack momentarily, realising he had the perfect opportunity to give her the camera. With Veena distracted by the blissful scenery, Zaron took no time in retrieving his backpack and fumble around frantically for the camera.

Although the camera box was large and bulky inside the bag, it had lodged itself at the bottom of the bag amongst the other items. Finally, he had a solid grasp on the box, switching to the oblivious Veena with a smooth grin.

“Well, it just so happens that I have-!”

“HEY GUYS!!!”

In that moment, both Zaron and Veena jolted up simultaneously as they felt their eardrums explode.

“Any update on the ‘Dragon's Eye' search yet?”

The abrupt voice belonged to Tobi. He called out through the earpiece with no awareness of how loud he sounded on the opposite end.

“Hellooooo...?” Tobi then called out once more, expressing impatience due to hearing no response. “...You guys aren’t dead already, are you?”

“W-we’re fine! It’s taking time ... but we're making progress.” Veena answered in an awkward stutter. “You just startled us, that’s all.”

“Oh! Phew...! We hadn’t heard from you guys, so we wanted to check in.”

“Ah, right ... sorry about that.” Veena apologised consciously, realising they had lost track of time.

Zaron refused to speak a word during the conversation, feeling bitter after Tobi interrupted him unknowingly. Instead, he picked up the Artoria blade after slipping on his jacket, returning it to its magnetic holster.

Swing...! Click!

The weapon clipped on instantly, resting firmly between the shoulder-blades on his back. Finally, he threw his backpack over his shoulder and strapped it over his weapon, giving up on any further attempt of presenting the camera to Veena.

“Is Zaron with you?” Tobi asked curiously. “He seems rather quiet...”

“Yeah, I’m here, Tobi.” Zaron mumbled begrudgingly.

“Ah, cool. Where are you guys now...?” The oblivious Tobi then wondered to the two, the sound of pages rustling in the process.

Both Zaron and Veena glanced at each other, uncertain on how they could describe their location to Tobi.

“We're far down into the cave, I think...?” Veena answered hesitantly. “We’ve reached a large tunnel with tons of ‘crystals’ that go on forever.”

“Hmm ... okay, hold on one moment...”

After that, Tobi’s voice fell silent on the speaker. The two Draiken obliged without second thought, hoping the young Cobalt would enlighten them on their whereabouts. However, the silence prolonged and their patience wore thin.

“Are you still with us, Tobi?” Zaron called out into his earpiece, hoping they still had reception.

So far, there was no response to be heard. The two waited a while longer, fidgeting and pacing on the spot.

“Do you think we lost connection?” Veena suggested to Zaron.

Zaron shrugged back, acting as clueless as her.

“…Maybe.”

With another few minutes of silence passing, the two Draiken finally yielded to their impatience.

“I’m sure we'll hear from him soon.” Zaron waved off casually, stepping forward to the corridor ahead. “The longer we wait for him, the longer we waste our time.”

Veena smiled back, “You sure? Or ... you hope?”

Intending to respond, Zaron opened his mouth.

“FOUND IT!!!”

JOLT!

“Gah-! I bit my tongue!”

The loud, unexpected response in the Draiken’s earpieces caused both to react in fright once again. Furthermore, Zaron staggered back, hunched over in agony as he covered his mouth.

“What’ve you got for us, Tobi?” Veena requested upon regaining her composure.

“You're about to enter a labyrinth.” Tobi deduced confidently, a hint of pride in his tone as though waiting to be praised. “It says here that: ‘To acquire the treasure you desire, you must first traverse through the ‘eternal labyrinth’. A sense of determination is what separates the strong-willed from the weak. A feel for the prize guarantees the goal.’ ...And that's all I have right now.”

There was a moment of awkward silence.

“That’s it?”

Zaron was the first to respond, acting disappointed whilst pinching the fresh cut on his tongue.

Tobi responded in certainty.

“Yep.”

There was a second moment of awkward silence.

“...Helpful.”

“I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!”

“Ngh-!”

With a deafening conclusion, the conversation ended. A low wince escaped Zaron as he soothed his throbbing ear, removing his earpiece temporarily to give his eardrum a break from the torment. Alternatively, Veena eyed the route ahead, repeating the riddle in her mind as she decided the best approach.

“Well, there you have it.” Zaron announced to Veena half-heartedly, stepping up beside her as he returned the earpiece to his ear. “It’s not much to go on ... but maybe we can work with it.”

“It’s doable.” Veena shrugged coolly in response. “Think of it this way: if we had all the information at our disposal, it wouldn’t be a challenge.”

“True.” Zaron nodded with a smirk, breathing out to reenergize himself. “Now then, madam. Shall we be off?”

“Oh, I thought you’d never ask.”

With a synchronized mind-set, Zaron and Veena proceeded through the crystallized corridor ahead. The bright surrounding crystals illuminated their way forward, allowing them to save their head-torch batteries and dazzled in the natural reflective light surrounding them. As they journeyed, the crystals served as a pleasant distraction, emulating a vast atmosphere of stars and galaxies. It was calming, soothing them of their lingering stress and anxieties. With that said, the two were not without question:

(How are the crystals generating natural light so far down the caving system? Where is the source?)

To them, it all seemed abnormal, feeling as thought there was a catch to all the beauty. Winding and curving, they followed along the rocky path, searching for any signs of their desired ‘labyrinth’. At first, they wondered if Tobi had overshot his estimation on their destination, taking in account that they had unexpectedly fallen through the floor. However, the two Draiken then stumbled upon a fork in the road, quashing any further doubt.

“I assume the labyrinth starts here?” Zaron deduced curiously his gaze switching between one pathway to the other. “The question is: right or left?”

“I vote left.” Veena answered immediately, confidence brimming from her. “I don’t know what it is out that passageway, but ... it just feels right to me.”

“Is it because you're left-handed?” Zaron responded with a deadpan expression.

“No!”

She was swift to deny the assumption, acting insulted by the baseless accusation. However, the longer he stared at her with his unconvinced expression, the more she struggled to keep eye-contact.

“...Yes.”

“*Pfft-!*”

“Hey! Don't laugh!”

The agitated Veena nudged Zaron in the abdomen as he continued to tease her, the two chuckling and giggling away. The duo then analysed the two pathways before them, weighing their options as they analysed any potential clues. Unfortunately, both routes were almost identical, walls filled with various illuminated crystals and other similar minerals. There were no obvious patterns or trends that could guide them through, the vast array of crystal acting as a visual mess. They then considered guessing, taking a step towards the left tunnel as they chose to proceed with Veena's suggestion.

“WAIT! DON’T GO YET! THERE’S SOMETHING ELSE!!!”

JOLT!

“GAHH!!! TOBI! STOP YELLING IN OUR EARS!!!”

Caught off-guard once again by the uncalled interruption, the fuming Zaron bellowed through the speaker without mercy. There was a moment of silence from the speaker, allowing the two to soothing their ringing ears.

“...I was going to say that there’s a page here with the first set of directions.” Tobi admitted quietly, acting as though he was a sad puppy after being disciplined by its owner. “I’ll, err ... leave you two to it.”

Guilt struck Zaron immediately like a ton of bricks, his mouth clamped shut as he realised the implications of his erratic outburst.

“...”

Veena gradually stepped aside, whistling to herself awkwardly to separate herself from the conversation.

(Traitor...!)

Glaring at her with a betrayed scowl, Zaron was left with no choice but to respond back to the disheartened Tobi.

“No wait, Tobi...! I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to shout at you like that.” He apologised with a defeated sigh, l pressure to right his wrong consuming him. “Just ... please turn down the volume when you speak to us.”

“...I'll try.”

Tobi's voice mumbled in response through the speaker, his tone barely audible as it was evident that he was bitter.

“...I make no promises though.”

“Fine by me.” Zaron waved off with a sigh of relief, although suspected he would regret it later. “So ... where do we go?”

With an accepting grunt, Tobi proceeded to direct them through the labyrinth corridors. They first took the left tunnel, causing a prideful yet egotistical grin to radiate from Veena – which also caused Zaron to roll his eyes. After a few minutes of following the corridor, the two then diverged to a right and dropped down to a lower level in the process. The drop was hidden from view initially, causing Zaron to stumble over himself as his foot stomped down. The only reason he avoided a complete collision was a swift save by Veena, who caught him mid-fall with a firm embrace.

“What type of labyrinth has levels?” Zaron wondered openly as he regained composure, hiding his flustered face as he descended further carefully.

“These people really wanted to keep the Eye hidden from the world, that's for sure.” Veena responded as she followed from behind, restraining the desire to snicker at Zaron’s expense.

“More like these people had too much time on their hand, am I right?” Tobi joked through the speaker, laughing away before returning to direct them on their trail.

The two Draiken were instructed to take a second left after the path curved around to the right corner. As they treaded deeper into the labyrinth, the two grew wary that they had entered an endless corridor. Finally, after an odd, zigzagging section, the two were met with a three-way fork.

“Hey, Tobi. We’ve reached a three-way fork.” Zaron announced through his earpiece, awaiting a response.

At first, Tobi had fallen silent on their earpieces.

“Is there a problem, Tobi?” Zaron asked in slight concern, the silence on the other end caused him to grow restless and fidgety.

“That's strange...” Tobi murmured in eventual response, the crackling sound of papers breaking through as he spoke. “On here … it shows only two pathways.”

Zaron and Veena glanced at each other with a widened gaze, alarm bells ringing in their minds.

“A-are you saying that we took a wrong turn?” Zaron then murmured with an anxious stutter, his eyes darting between each corridor at frantic pace.

“No! Of course not!” Tobi argued back defensively. “I followed the map exactly as it’s drawn on the sheet.”

Taking a step forward, Veena inspected the three tunnels before her.

“Could the third route be faded on your sheet, Tobi?”

“Not that I can see.” Tobi denied in honesty. “All it's showing are two routes with an arrow pointing to the right corridor.”

The contradiction left the two Draiken deep in thought, clueless on how they should proceed. At first, they reflected on the route so far, wondering if they had made a mistake whilst following Tobi’s instructions. However, through brief deliberation, the two confirmed that there were no errors in their journey through the labyrinth up to their current position. They were at a loss with the inconvenient anomaly.

“Well, we can’t stand around gawking at the tunnels forever.” Zaron announced in a firm stance, breaking the intense silence. “We’ll just end up wasting time and energy over needless crap.”

Veena eyed him with a serious expression.

“But we can't just go headfirst without a plan-of-action.” She refuted patiently, considering all aspects of their situation. “What if we take the wrong route and fall into a trap? I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer not to kick-the-bucket so prematurely.”

She then shifted attention to the three corridors before them, focusing on the middle and right tunnels specifically.

“Think about it this way: Tobi's map suggests we take the right corridor. So, we’re left with two options: the ‘middle' and the ‘far-right’ path?”

Zaron paused, fidgeting on the spot as he considered Veena’s argument whilst analysing the three routes once more. At first, he considered the overall sizes of the tunnels, wondering if they had any correlation to Tobi’s map – such as one tunnel rendered a size small that its two siblings. However, upon further inspection, the trio of tunnels were almost identical in shape and size. With that possibility out the window, Zaron shifted his focus slightly.

In that moment, his eyes widened in heightened realisation.

“How close is the right and left tunnels on your map, Tobi?” He then requested through his earpiece.

“They're right next to each other.” Tobi answered immediately, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

“Great. We'll take the middle tunnel.” Zaron concluded in confidence, his resolve set as he stepped forward towards the central route.

“Wha-?!”

The sudden declaration from Zaron caught Veena off-guard, causing her to rush frantically to stop him before he could disappear though the tunnel.

“Zaron, wait!” She blurted out in haste, grabbing his arm with a firm grip. “What’s happening? Why’re you taking the middle path?”

“It’s pretty simple...” Zaron answered with a casual shrugged, acting as though his decision was flawless. “The left and middle tunnels are really close to each other whilst the one at the right is further away. So, I decided to compare it with the map and see if the distance between the tunnels on paper match up with what’s in front of us.”

“That’s good thinking, but…” Veena then murmured hesitantly, feeling unsatisfied with the outcome. “How can we be so sure that’s the correct solution? What if we’re following a false trail?”

“Veena, we’ll never get anywhere if we continue to obsess over absolute perfection.” Zaron suggested in response. “It’s great when we have all the information, but sometimes we need to listen to our gut and take the plunge.”

Consumed with uncertainty, Veena watched cautiously as Zaron pressed forward into the middle tunnel. As her gaze drifted between the three tunnels once more, wondering crucially whether they were correct on their decision or had missed a crucial aspect to the tunnels. Additionally, she feared what awaited them at the end, expecting to stumble upon numerous traps and setbacks throughout their adventure as a whole – let alone their crusade through the labyrinth. Placing aside her concerns, Veena followed Zaron into the unknown depths of the tunnel, forcing faith in her partner’s decision.

***

Time passed swiftly as the two Draiken followed the tunnel, both questioning when they would reach the labyrinth’s end. Their path continued for what felt an eternity, forever winding and descending into the uncharted abyss. Furthermore, the atmosphere thickened with humidity and an aura of looming hostility, feeling as though someone was watching them.

To make matters worse, the two had proceeded beyond the directions on Tobi’s map, resorting in them relying on their gut instincts – much to Veena’s dismay. At various occasions of their journey, the duo would come across another split in the tunnels, forcing them into another bout of frustration and uncertainty. Upon many deliberations and disagreements, they would choose a route based primarily on visual hints, or – as a last resort – would decide their chances on a coin toss.

Eventually, the two would reach a dead-end.

“I guess we have no choice but to head back.” Veena suggested with a disgruntled sigh and arms crossed.

She was ready to backtrack, her feet shifted towards the tunnel behind her. However, Zaron halted her in an instant, holding up his hand as his gaze was set on the wall before them.

“We need to climb the wall.” He informed her as he pointed to the high reaches above. “Do you see the ledge up there? I bet that’s our way forward.”

Veena squinted her eyes as she followed the direction of Zaron’s finger, stepping closer to gain a clearer view. Through the various crystal pillars and far up the rock-face before, a lone ledge appeared with a fair-blue glow.

“Huh ... well spotted.” Veena complimented as she craned her neck.

Snatch!

Just then, Zaron leapt onto the wall without a second thought, latching his wing-talons onto the first set of indents in his reach. With his body planted against the wall, he set to ascend.

“Race you to the top!” He declared as he switched back to Veena briefly, a large grin beaming across his face. “Ready-GO!!!”

“Wai-...! WAIT-WAIT-WAIT! Don't you dare get a head-start on me!”

Fwip!

Throwing herself onto the wall, Veena yelled up frantically to the energetic Zaron.

“ZARON!!!”

She was already too late to catch up. Zaron was speeding up the wall at an immense pace, using the crystal pillars for an extra boost where required. He was swift and natural in his flow during his ascent, any sense of fatigue rendered non-existent in his body. He calculated every move, seamless in his ascent without even a hint of hesitation nor a need to reposition himself.

Whoosh!

Refusing him the easy win, Veena launched up the wall with pure agility, acting as light as a feather whilst each hold was met with a simple touch. Her speed was unmatched, darting and leaping in haste as she eyed her target. However, no matter her impossible speeds, she was unable to catch up with Zaron.

***

“You’re the worst.”

Veena was a few steps ahead of Zaron, pouting and mumbling underneath her breath in distraught.

“There’s no need to get mopey on me, Veena.” Zaron snickered cheekily as he called out to her, enjoying the tease. “A loss isn’t so bad every so often. We had a fair game after all.”

“What do you mean by ‘fair’?! There was nothing ‘fair’ about that race! You’re a filthy cheat!” Veena erupted in response as she switched back to him, causing Zaron to hop back in a startle. “I’ll tell you now: I wouldn’t’ve minded losing if we both started that race on equal footing!”

With a piercing, dagger-like glare, her next words cemented her opinion on the race.

“And besides, if we started ‘fair’ ... you would never stand chance against me.”

Zaron smirked, a whispery laugh escaping him, “Ah-hah-haaa...! You’re such a sore loser, Veena.”

Suddenly, Veena approached with an unbreakable stride and stood close opposite Zaron, her glare growing evermore intense as she eyed up with a firm expression. Zaron stood his ground, no reaction in his expression whatsoever – even though he was aware that he crossed the line.

“Let’s go back.” She whispered with an eerie grin, a dark aura engulfing her body. “Let’s race again. No head starts. No cheating. Just me and you on an even playing field. What do you think?”

Zaron retorted with a cool, relaxed smirk, “I would love a rematch. But we have a job to do, and we wouldn’t want to keep our friends waiting, now would we?”

There was a brief glimpse of disappointment in her gaze, yet Veena held her confident grin as she leaned in.

“Fine.” She accepted nonchalantly, although a menacing undertone loomed in her voice. “Then again, I bet you'd never turn down a sparring match.”

Zaron’s brow raised.

“Oh? What’re you implying?” He then asked her curiously.

“Well ... How long has it been since you last used Artoria?” Veena proceeded to wonder, questioning him curiously as she acknowledged the weapon attacked behind his back. “Was it two – no ... three weeks? I'm sure you're desperate to swing it around again.”

His crafty grin then twitched. She had him wrapped around her little finger, knowing exactly how to play with his emotions and flip the narrative in its head.

“I appreciate the enthusiasm, but...” Zaron chuckled coolly, standing his ground. “Do you really think Kurama could take on Artoria?”

In that moment, Veena edged closer to Zaron, her lips close to his ear as she whispered soothingly.

“Why not find out for yourself?”

Ba-dump...!

Zaron stumbled back in immediate reaction, holding up his hands as his face turned beat red.

“You got me.” He admitted in honest defeat, barely able to meet eyes with Veena. “I admit, the ‘sore loser' comment was a step too far. My bad...”

Disappointment dawned on Veena, gazing at Zaron as though she had her spirits crushed.

“That's it?” She muttered in dissatisfaction, unable to hide her pout. “You’re seriously just going to back off after all that? I never took you for being ‘all talk, no bite’, Zaron.”

“I never said I’m ‘backing off’?” He rebutted nonchalantly as he stepped passed her and proceeded down the tunnel. “There’s no point in wasting our energy right now, so we’ll set an appropriate time for our sparring match. In fact, we'll make it a date.”

“Wha-...?”

And with that, the wide-eyed Veena was left speechless as she watched Zaron progress ahead through the labyrinth, caught off-guard by the statement – the last sentence especially. With her head hidden behind her crimson-red hair, she followed her partner.

She then whispered underneath her breath, struggling to subdue her quivering grin, “You just had to go and say it like that…”

***

“Hey Veena, is it me or is the tunnel opening up?” Zaron yelled out in sudden realisation.

“Huh...? Oh, so it is.” Veena responded in surprise, noticing the gradual shift of the area around them. “Have we reached the end?”

Zaron’s feet picked up hastily, anticipation rising from his expression.

“I have a good feeling about this.”

Their pace shifted from a stride, to a trot, to a full-on sprint. Their feet were swift, overwhelmed with excitement at the first sign of progression. They matched an equal pace, ensuring that one would not fall behind the other. As they raced through the tunnelling corridors, adrenaline pumped through their blood as they anticipated the Dragon’s Eye closing in. They predicted success was just around the corner.

Trip!

The two Draiken were blinded by their excitement that Zaron had not clocked the small dip in the ground below him.

“Whoa-ho!”

Zaron blurted out as his foot caught the dip unexpectedly, losing his balance temporarily as his momentum carried him on.

Stumble…!

Veena avoided the dip instinctively, sidestepping the trip-hazard with an awkward tiptoe. Skid...! However, she then skidded to an abrupt halt, staring ahead as a daunting possibility turned into reality. During this time, Zaron avoided the humiliating fall and recovered his balance.

“That was close...”

The young male Draiken sighed out in relief as he regained his posture, stretching himself out as though the stumble was part of the routine. He then glanced forward with anticipation, only to freeze on the spot.

“Ah, crap.”

He realised they reached a dead-end with no alternate path.

“Looks like we’re not-”

(…getting anywhere.)

Zaron had trailed off as he spoke, his mind finishing his own sentence automatically. He was left speechless, his eyes widened in shock as his attention shifted to the ‘trip hazard’ behind him. Veena followed his gaze without a word, her expression equal to his own. The two reached the same conclusion as they both recognised the indent in the ground – it was the very indent caused by the Artoria Blade.

They were standing at the entrance of the Labyrinth.